RETURNING TO ALLAH - CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE

The spiritual condition of the Ahlullāh is something that we need to develop in our personalities. Hazrat Mianjee Noor Muhammad Sahib رحمه الله had a unique habit where he would carry a money bag when he needed to buy anything. After making the purchase, he would give the shopkeeper the bag and ask him to take the required amount. Hazrat Mianjee Noor Muhammad Sahib رحمه الله used to say that if he had taken out the money, and then presented it to the shopkeeper, he would have been deprived of many moments of Zikrullāh.

There is another incident of Hazrat Mianjee Noor Muhammad Sahib رحمه الله; he was walking with his money bag when a thief snatched the bag and ran away. Hazrat رحمه الله did not even bother to turn and see who it was who had stolen the money. Instead, he went straight home. Hazrat رحمه الله reflected that if he ran after the thief in search of his money, he will lose many moments making Zikrullāh.

The underlying message we learn from the lives of our Akaabir is that they wished to spend their time in this world to ensure benefit in the Aakhirah. What is urgently needed is that we remind ourselves that we do not know how long we are going to live in this world; we therefore abandon all acts of futility and negligence.

12 REASONS TO LEAVE SHIASM

The dangers of Shiasm are innumerable because of the problems in the foundations of it. It boils down to the simple fact that Shiasm is not from Allāh Ta’ala. Hereunder is a list of some of the most significant problems with Shiasm. We hope that every sincere Muslim and Shia will ponder deeply over these reasons. May Allāh guide all those that read it to the truth of Islām. Amīn

A pure focus on Allāh Ta’ala

Access to the Hadīth of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam

Acceptance of the Sahābah Radiallahu Anhum

Access to the real teachings of Ahl ul Bayt

Uniformity in the teachings of Ahl ul Bayt

A taqiyyah-free Ahl ul Bayt

Access to the context of Qur’ānic verses

Reliable books of Tafsīr

Access to the Sīrah

Trust in the Hadīth compilers

A Karbala narrative that makes sense

Disbelief in a twelfth Imām that has been hidden for over a thousand years

1- A Pure Focus on Allāh Ta’ala

One of the main reasons for the conversion of ex-Shias to Sunnism is the focus on Allāh Ta’ala. As many are aware, the main focus in Shiasm is not the Creator, but rather, the creation. Even though Sunnīs venerate Ahl ul Bayt deeply, they do not make them the focus of their religion. This can be observed in their practices, lectures, and in their daily spoken language.

Shias, sadly, do not enjoy the same focus on Allah Ta’ala. This is most commonly observed in how they encourage putting Ahl ul Bayt, as an intermediary, between them and Allāh Ta’ala. This is not encouraged in the Qur’ān, for we know that Allāh Ta’ala said [2:186]: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls on Me.”

2- Access to the Hadīth of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam

Most people are aware that Sunnīs build their faith on the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam . However, what most Shias are not aware of is the fact that there are not enough prophetic narrations in the Shia Hadīth corpus for them to build their sect upon, so the same cannot be said for them.

For Ahādīth, the Sunnīs have a variety of sources that they can refer to. Off the top of my head, Sunnīs can easily find prophetic narrations in the Sahīhayn, the four Sunan, Musnad Ahmad, Muwatta Mālik, Al-Tabarani’s three Ma’ajim, Sunan Al-Daraqutnī, Sunan Al-Dārimī, Sahīh Ibn Hibbān, Sahīh Ibn Khuzaymah, Musnad Al-Bazzār, Musnad Abū Ya’la, as well as the Masaneed that have been preserved through Ibn Hajar’s Al-Matalib Al-Aliya.

Shias, on the other hand, do not have a book that collects Ahādīth. When the odd narration from Rasūlullāh  himself is found in a book like Al-Kāfī, or another one of the four books, it is weak or fabricated due to the anonymity of a narrator most of the time.

It should not be a surprise that the Shias do not have a large number of reliable Ahaadith from Rasūlullāh Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam , since they reject the majority of the companions of Rasūlullāh Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam as reliable narrators. This leads us to our next point.

3- Acceptance of the Sahābah Radiallahu Anhum

Even though this may seem trivial to average Shias, it is clearly a matter of great significance as we can see from the previous point. The rejecting of the Sahābah Radiallahu Anhum ultimately leads to rejecting the vast majority of the Ahādīth.

Shias may attempt to cling at straws by suggesting that the Sunnī prophetic tradition is actually the result of Umayyad Hadīth factories. This theory is based upon a lack of an objective reading of the Sunnī texts, since the majority of the Sunnī Hadīth collections do not contain anything pro-Umayyad. On the other hand, the narrations about the merits of Sayyidunā ‘Alī Radiallahu Anhu and the rest of Ahl ul Bayt are plenty in number in the Sunnī books. More importantly, the vast majority of the Sunnī traditions revolve around neutral practices and wisdoms from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. By neutral, we mean non-controversial.

Acceptance of the Sahābah Radiallahu Anhum also leads to access to a plethora of their personal opinions in rulings and practices, as well as Qur’ānic interpretation. Access to the opinions of first generation of Muslims provides Sunnīs with a better understanding of religious matters that have some vagueness due to language and historical context.

RETURNING TO ALLAH TA'ALA - THE ACTUAL AIM...

Sheikh Sahl bin Abdullah al-Tustari رحمه الله was a saint of the highest order. In abstinence and righteous deeds, he was without equal. He grew up in the company of his uncle Sheikh Muhammad bin Sawwār رحمه الله who planted the seeds of Tawheed in his heart from a very young age. Sheikh Sahl رحمه الله narrates that one day his uncle said to him; "Why don't you remember Allah Ta'ala who created you?" Sheikh Sahl: "How should I remember him?"Sheikh Muhammad answered: "Before you sleep every night, say the following three times in your heart, without moving your tongue; 'Allah is with me, Allah is watching me, Allah is present with me.'"

Sheikh Sahl رحمه الله said that he followed the advice of his uncle and after a while reported to him. He was then advised to repeat the phrases seven times every night. Sheikh Muhammad رحمه الله thereafter asked that the phrases be increased to eleven times before sleeping. Amazingly, Sheikh Sahl رحمه الله said that he continued with the practice of reciting the phrases eleven times until the sweetness of Īmān entered his heart.

After a year had passed, Sheikh Muhammad bin Sawwār رحمه الله advised his nephew (Sheikh Sahl رحمه الله): "Remember what I taught you and continue with it as long as you live. It will benefit you in this world and the Aakhirah." Sheikh Sahl رحمه الله mentioned that he continued with this practice until he felt the sweetness of it (the phrases) within. One day Sheikh Muhammad bin Sawwār رحمه الله addressed his nephew Sheikh Sahl رحمه الله again; "Sahl, a person who realises that Allah Ta'ala is watching him all the time, would find it difficult to disobey Him. Beware of disobeying Allah!"

This is a simple but potent prescription to create the awareness of Allah Ta'ala جل جلاله in our lives. Amazingly, the simple things are the most effective!

When Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) despatched the army of Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) to the Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, he advised him: “Fear your sins more than you fear the enemy, as your sins are more dangerous to you than your enemy. We Muslims are only victorious over our enemy because their sins outnumber ours, not for any other reason. If our sins were equal to those of our enemy, then they would defeat you due to their superior numbers and resources.”

Abu Ishaaq Al-Fazaaree {Rahimahullaah} says:The enemy was never able to stand up to the Companions of Allah’s Messenger {Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him}, so when the news of the defeat of the Romans came to Heraclius at Antioch he asked [his people], “Woe to you, tell me about these people who fight you, are they not humans like you?” They replied, “Indeed, they are.” He asked, “So are you more in number or them?” They replied, “We outnumber them greatly in all places.” He said, “So how is it that you are defeated whenever you confront them?”

A senior and esteemed elder amongst them replied, “Because they stand in prayer at night, fast during the day, fulfill their agreements and promises, enjoin what is right and forbid what is evil, they are fair and just amongst themselves; and because we drink wine, fornicate, disobey, break our agreements, steal, oppress and do injustice, enjoin the committing of what angers God and forbid what pleases God, the Mighty and Majestic, and we cause evil and corruption in the land.”

"Why is it that we fought you before and always had the upper hand but now we can't defeat you?"

The Sahabi replied "The battles used to be between you and us, and you had more power so you used to defeat us, however, the situation now is, that Allah ﷻ, the Powerful, is on our side and Allah ﷻ can never be defeated"

One spy described the companions to the emperor "By day, they are warriors, but by night, they are monks"

Today, We need to bring Allah ﷻ on our side. This can only be done through obedience, devotion, total submission and by invoking Allah ﷻ for His help.

May Allah ﷻ guide us towards what is right, what pleases Him and what angers Him. May Allah ﷻ give us Tawfeeq to behave properly. May Allah ﷻ help the Muslim ummah around the globe. Ameen

The Jamiatul-Ulama Gauteng is not a fund raising organization.When depositiong funds,make us your unfettered “Wakeel”.If you are depositing Zakaat,do please ensure that a few extra Rands are deposited in order to offset bank charges.

In the morning alms are due for every bone in man's body. His salutation to everyone he meets is alms, his enjoining good is alms, his forbidding what is evil is alms, the removal of harmful thing from the way is alms, to have sexual intercourse with one's wife if alms, and two rak'ahs which one prays in the Duha serve instead of that.